A Guide to Key Philosophical Concepts and Arguments
Matching Brief Descriptions of Terms
Philosophy: Critical reasoning about ultimate questions.
Argument: A set of propositions consisting of premises and a conclusion.
Deduction: Arguments where the conclusion follows necessarily from the premises.
Induction: Arguments where the conclusion follows from the premises with some degree of probability.
Validity: When it is impossible for a deductive argument to have all true premises and a false conclusion.
Soundness: When a deductive argument is valid and
Read MoreNietzsche’s Vitalism: A Critical Analysis of Morality, Knowledge, and the Death of God
Nietzsche’s Vitalism
1. Life: The Three Periods of His Work
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) was born in Röcken, a small German town near Leipzig. His grandfather and father were Protestant ministers. After his father’s death when he was five, Nietzsche received a devout Christian and female-dominated education. He acquired a solid humanistic education based on classical studies and demonstrated great sensitivity.
Schopenhauer’s influence is evident in Nietzsche’s work, particularly through “The World
Read MoreKant’s Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals: A Comprehensive Guide
Kant’s Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals
Introduction
Immanuel Kant’s Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals is a seminal work in the history of ethics. In this text, Kant attempts to provide a foundation for morality that is both rational and universal.
The Enlightenment and Kant’s Project
Kant’s work is deeply influenced by the Enlightenment, a cultural movement that emphasized the importance of reason and individual freedom. Kant believed that morality should be based on reason, not on tradition
Read MoreLiterary Movements: Puritan Plain Style to Positivism
Puritan Plain Style
”Plain” does not mean ”rustic” or ”rude”, much less ”artless”. It means ”unadorned” by elaborated figures of speech and learned references just as the church building, services and the ministers themselves must be unadorned. Literary conceits and classical allusions were a sign of human vanity. Puritans favored simple, short words rather than long, fancy ones. They got to the point immediately, no exaggerated descriptions. It is based on directness and clarity.
Satans
Read MoreExploring the Conflict of Values in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World
Analysis: Chapters 9–10
In these chapters, the interlude at the Reservation ends, and John’s life in the World State begins. The conflict between John’s values and the social mores of the World State starts to become obvious. The shift of setting, from the Reservation in New Mexico to the World State in England, foreshadows the shift that is about to take place in the lives of both John and Bernard.
John’s character is revealed more fully in his confrontations with World State culture. His
Read MoreCultural Relativism: Understanding Moral Differences Across Cultures
Introduction
In his travels, Darius encountered a variety of cultures with diverse practices. This led him to believe that a comprehensive understanding of the world requires an appreciation for such cultural differences.
Claims of Cultural Relativism
Cultural relativism asserts that:
- Different societies have distinct moral codes.
- There is no objective standard for judging one code as superior to another.
- Our own society’s moral code holds no special status.
- There is no universal moral truth.
- A society’